Arctic Drift, by Clive Cussler & Dirk Cussler

October 13, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: bestseller, Clive Cussler, technothriller, Thriller 

Clive Cussler is a big bestselling author in the United States. He pretty Arctic Drift, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler much follows the formula of James Patterson – who seemingly runs a bestseller factory – and writes basically with short sentences, short paragraphs and short chapters. And, perhaps even more than is the case with Patterson, Clive Cussler fills his pages with techno-action.

In Arctic Drift, Clive Cussler and his son Dirk imagine the U.S. and Canada on the brink of war. This is their third collaborative novel (after Treasure of Khan
and Black Wind), and they have the formula for success down cold. Cussler has created a world where NUMA is real and where saving the world is mandatory and as easy as turning the next page.

Here, the price of gas hits $10 a gallon, and US President Garner Ward must contend with a corrupt Canadian cabal that’s subverting efforts to solve America’s energy problems. Pitt barely escapes serious injury when a bomb destroys a D.C. lab along with records of research into an artificial photosynthesis process that could, almost immediately, eliminate the threat of global warming.

But despair not – Dirk Pitt is on the case. It looks very bleak, and events do certainly seem to escalate out of control. But the Pitts manage to connect the dots, and eventually the greedy guys are defeated and peace reigns yet again. Till next time.

Thriller fans in search of a quick, exciting read should be satisfied. There is lots of breathtaking suspense and audacious imagination in Arctic Drift, as in all the books in the Pitt series. And, yes, it is entertaining. As it were.

Praise:

‘the action zipping along until a final powerhouse showdown’ (Entertainment Weekly).

‘What’s not to like?’ (Los Angeles Times)

Links to the books by Clive Cussler: amazon US, amazon UK, and amazon CAN.

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Corsair, by Clive Cussler and Jack Dubrul

May 15, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: bestseller, book review, technothriller 

This is the sixth novel in the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler and co-authors. To my mind, this series seems to be written much in the fashion and style of the Corsair, by Clive Cussler and Jack Dubrul James Patterson thriller factory. That is, plot by Cussler, actual writing by Jack Du Brul. And with a similar recipe for success as well: Lots of action, a huge plot, pretty short chapters, preferably short paragraphs, and short, sweet sentences. It seems to work – both Cussler and Peterson write books that are bestsellers in the US.

In Corsair, Juan Cabrillo, the Corporation, and the Oregon are at it again. The Oregon is a vessel that viewed from the outside appears to be old, somewhat in disrepair and weak, but which in reality is heavily armored and full of sophisticated equipment and powerful weaponry. And the technology plays a significant role in the book.

It starts with a prologue set during the Barbary pirate war and a tale of a pirate fortune. It continues with the Oregon raiding a modern day pirate stronghold in order to capture a pirate leader out of a heavily defended port.

But the real action in Corsair, its main storyline, starts when the United States’ Secretary of State’s plane crashes under mysterious circumstances on the way to Libya. And the action is fast, furious and impressive. It is quite interesting and entertaining. Even though you really have let go of logic and go with the flow of the book pretty often in order to fully enjoy. But if you can do that, than this book is very entertaining.

Du Brul and Cussler weave great although sometime pretty wild plotlines, and they are good at mixing in “facts” in lots of shapes and forms – history, religion, and politics. To me, the plot was moderately or so engaging. And at some spots, even in this adventure filled action novel, things were a little too slow and the side stories a tad boring. But even so, Corsair is an above-average adventure story, and quite ok for a relaxing reading of a technological adventure.

Links to the books by Clive Cussler: amazon US, amazon UK, and amazon CAN.

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